Cotinus Grace - Smoke Bush

The Cotinus 'Grace' or Smoke Bush is a small deciduous shrub remarkable for its intense red to purple foliage. In addition, it has a surprisingly light summer flowering, reminiscent of cotton candy or a wig. It is ideal at the back of a border and tolerates pruning very well.

The genus Cotinus comprises only two species native to Eurasia and North America. The Cotinus 'Grace' is a small, upright, and bushy shrub resulting from the cross-breeding between Cotinus coggygria and Cotinus coggygria 'Velvet Cloak'. At maturity, it can reach a height and spread of 5 metres (16 feet). It has remarkable foliage composed of deciduous leaves that are tender, pedunculate, and rounded with a diameter of 5 to 8 cm (2 - 3.1 in). The leaves are especially notable for their bright pomegranate colour with red veins, which change throughout the year. Once developed, the leaves will turn into a glaucous green colour with a green-bronze underside, and in autumn, they will become intensely red before falling. Airy purple panicles will appear from July to August, and the plant gets its name from the different evocations of its flowering. Some call it Jupiter's beard, while others call it Smoke Bush. Its intense purple stems will colour the garden during winter, making it a true spectacle for every season!

This shrub is easy to grow and highly resilient, able to withstand temperatures as low as -20°C. It requires light, well-drained, and moist soil and can be planted in a sunny or semi-shaded area. Additionally, it is highly resistant to disease and can tolerate all types of pruning. This versatile shrub can be used as a free-standing hedge, placed in the back of a border, or grown as coppice shoots. It is often seen as an indicator of the seasons and pairs well with osmanthus, elderberries, or photinias.

The Cotinus Grace shrub responds well to pruning as coppice shoots. Trick the leaves back in autumn after the leaves have fallen, leaving only 2 to 3 buds on the strongest stems. Following these steps, you will obtain a shrub with stems that are 1 m (3 ft 4 in) to 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) tall. The shrub features a purple-red colour and leaves measuring 10 to 15 cm (3.9 - 5.9 in) in diameter, with a pomegranate red colour throughout the season.